“Knowledge without Borders” Begins its Provision of Home Libraries to Emirati Families in Sharjah

Sharjah–based cultural project ‘Knowledge without Borders’ (KwB), has commenced its provision of home libraries to Emirati families in Sharjah. The initiative forms part of its strategy to equip households in the emirate with sources of Arabic knowledge that are readily available and easily accessible for all generations. 

Titled the ‘Home Library’ initiative, the activity sees eligible Emirati families able to visit their local councils and receive their books to take away free-of-charge. It is expected that a total of 250,000 books will be distributed to 5,000 families in Sharjah in this manner before the end of the year. 

“After months of careful planning, we are delighted to announce that KwB’s Home Library project has entered its distribution phase, which once complete will see a quarter of a million books given to families in the emirate of Sharjah. This worthy initiative implements the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and is in line with his vision to disseminate and promote the culture of reading among the Emirati community,” said Rashid Al Kous, General Manager of KwB.

The list of purchased books to be distributed under Home Library includes titles written by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as well as books on education and, poetry. Other areas and subject matters include children's literature, science, culture, philosophy, politics, technology, history, archaeology, nutrition and cooking. Emirati families residing in the Sharjah suburbs of Muwaileh, Moghaider and Waset will be the first beneficiaries of the programme and are merely required to present at their local council office with their Family Books, passports and Emirates ID cards to receive their allocation of free books.

Al Kous added; “Our implementation of the distribution phase of Home Library follows the survey that we conducted in collaboration with the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development and Feedback Company, the findings of which we unveiled in November 2015. Based on the survey results, which identified the various interests of the different generations in Emirati families, we purchased 80,000 books from publishing houses that participated in last year’s Sharjah International Book Fair. These books form the first part of our distribution phase.”

A KwB delegation recently paid a visit to Moghaider Council in Sharjah, where they met with Sheikh Majid bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Suburbs and Village Affairs in the Emirate of Sharjah (DSVA) and DSVA’s officials and members. During the visit, Sheikh Majid discussed with the delegation ways of enhancing cooperation between KwB and the DSVA councils, with the representatives agreeing on effective mechanisms of distributing the libraries to Emirati families throughout the rest of the year.

Khamis Bin Salem Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Department of Suburbs and Villages Affairs, thanked the organisers of KwB for the important role they play in promoting Sharjah as a cultural capital, highlighting the importance of reading for a children’s healthy growth, enhancing general knowledge and developing intellectual capacity across all segments of the community.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that, in conjunction with KwB, the Department of Suburbs and Villages Affairs (DSVA) seeks to spread communal awareness to support the initiative in achieving its goals, which will benefit all by instilling a love of reading within all segments of society. He stressed that DSVA is always keen to support government as well as private projects and to take part in implementing joint programmes and campaigns that contribute to the community’s growth and prosperity. 

KwB was launched as an initiative by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and is supervised and supported by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of its Organising Committee. The initiative aspires to establish reading as a noble habit in every household in the UAE by encouraging the establishment of home libraries and supplying these libraries with the best titles in a cross-section of genres suitable for the entire family.